(412) 489-1100
D ecember 2015 News
 
A  Word About Phone Security... Tips to defeat hackers

2016 Budget Season...  Schedule a T echnology Assessment & Planning session today!

Beat the weather with Third Generation Cloud Voice

Mitel's MiCollab App...  Award-winning Mobile tools

Sho reTel's Connect Contact Center
builds positive customer experiences

Important E-Rate funding update for K-12 Schools & Libraries

Toshiba Trade Up Promotions  
  May every day of your New Year be filled with  
success & prosperity...
Happy 2016 from Third Generation!
A Word About Phone Security… Tips to defeat Hackers
Phone hacking or “phreaking” costs businesses billions of dollars. Even worse – as some of our clients recently learned – many carriers expect you to pay the bill!

Hackers access business phone systems through voicemail ports to make huge numbers of free calls. The good news is that there are measures you can take to ensure your phone system stays well protected…
  1. When installing new equipment, change the access credentials from the default settings.

  2. Do NOT use easy passwords such as 1234.

  3. Routinely review itemized telephone invoices for any anomalies.

  4. Ask your service provider about their fraud monitoring policy.

  5. If you have more than one administrator accessing the telephone system, make sure they use unique access credentials.

  6. Whenever staff members leave the organization, immediately disable their access credentials.

  7. Store all access credentials securely. 
Third Generation recognizes that your phone system is essential to your daily operations. Let's talk about best-practice security measures you can take.  Contact us today at 412-489-1100 or Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
2016 Budget Season – Schedule a Technology Assessment & Planning session today!
With a new year right around the corner, there’s no better time to plan for the future of your business technology and communications. Third Generation is ready to help with …

Assessments − We will develop a complete picture of the office technology and communication needs required to help meet your business goals. This includes a thorough review of your existing networks and systems.

Cost-Reduction Strategies − We'll suggest cost-cutting strategies and ways to optimize your communication technologies.

Technology Roadmaps −  With information gathered during the assessment process, we will put together recommendations and step-by-step plans.

Whether you're a small, mid-sized, or large enterprise, Third Generation experts can help support your 2016 strategic plans. Arrange an appointment by contacting us today at 412-489-1100 or email Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
Beat the Weather with Third Generation Cloud Voice
With snow and ice on the way, even the strongest business continuity plans will be well tested. Power outages can shut down a data center, flooding can drown land lines, and strong winds can put wireless towers out of commission.

During Hurricane Sandy a few years ago, 75% of affected businesses were closed for at least a full day. Almost 50% stayed closed for over a week. Imagine not being able to send or receive calls from customers for an entire week − could your business endure an extended outage like that?

Moving your communications to the Cloud provides a safe haven. As long as your employees have an Internet connection, they can continue to access their office phone, email, videoconferencing, and apps from any location.  Think about it… While your competitors are scrambling for a quick fix, it’s business as usual for you.

Learn more about Third Gen Cloud Voice. Contact us today at 412-489-1100 or email Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
Mitel's MiCollab App − Award-winning mobile tools
MiCollab is Mitel’s award-winning unified communications application optimized for today’s mobile workforce… 
  1. Single point of access – enables everyone in your organization to access real-time communication capabilities, regardless of location or device.

  2. Softphone – employees can enjoy the same intuitive, office-based communications experience from a remote PC, laptop, or tablet via an embedded software-based IP phone.

  3. Directory Access – via APIs, other business applications can be integrated with MiCollab, including directories and contact lists.

  4. Click to Call – with just one mouse click, users can easily “dial” phone numbers from a directory or contact list, or seamlessly move a call from desk phone to mobile (cell or Wi-Fi) for uninterrupted communication on the go.

  5. Audio and Web Conferencing – anyone can set up a conference with the click of a button, whether for a scheduled collaboration session or an impromptu meeting.
Find out how Third Generation can help you with a Mitel solution that gives employees a better way to communicate, reduces travel time and expense, and improves productivity so your business can remain competitive.  Call us today at 412-489-1100 or email Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
How ShoreTel's Connect Contact Center builds Positive Customer Experiences
Have a 24x7 call center?  Need a way to make your start-up appear as professional as the big guys? ShoreTel Connect Contact Center is  a great choice. 

You get all this and more…
  • Agents interact with customers via features such as Web chat and email

  • Advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR) scripting tool enables a self-service option

  • Customized routing plans and distributed agents provide superior service 

  • Configure call routing to serve customers based on agent skills, caller identity, wait time, priority or service level.

  • Read the pulse of your call center by getting visual and audible threshold alerts on critical conditions.
Give your customer service reps a powerful communication platform, whether in a centralized call center, teleworking from home, or manning a remote office.

Let Third Generation show you how Contact Centers can serve customers better and improve your bottom line. Contact us today: 412-489-1100 or Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
Important E-Rate Funding Update for K-12 Schools & Libraries
For years, K-12 schools and libraries have counted on E-Rate funding to modernize and maintain their voice and data communications infrastructure. At the end of 2014, the FCC reduced the total cost of the E-Rate program, and announced it would discontinue funding traditional voice communications such as dial-tone service, long-distance services and voicemail, while eliminating VoIP funding in phases over the next five years.

In the past, K-12 schools and libraries received partial funding at levels from 20% to 90% of their total VoIP costs through the E-Rate program. Under the new guidelines, K-12 schools and libraries will see their funding decrease by 20% for each successive year until all funding is phased out by 2019.

It’s not too late for E-Rate… Third Generation will help you navigate the changes for 2016.

Contact us today: 412-489-1100 or Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
Toshiba Trade Up Promotions
There’s never been a better time to update your current telephone system… Toshiba is offering incredible sales promotions for existing Toshiba customers and businesses using select competitors' telephone systems. 
 
Move up to a premises-based Toshiba IPedge system or cloud-based VIPedge service. There’s also great pricing on Toshiba SIP trunks, the UCedge app and Toshiba phones.
 
Get all the Trade Up offer details today.  Contact us today: 412-489-1100 or Mike@3GenUSA.com.  
We're your local source for the latest in Voice, Collaboration, Networks and Cloud Solutions.  Get practical advice and learn new ways to improve your operations with technology.  
 
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